Humor

Job 19:23-25 (ESV)

Oh that my words were written!

                Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

Oh that with an iron pen and lead

                They were engraved in the rock forever!

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

                And at the last he will stand upon the earth.

It is always interesting to see what God chooses to include in the bible. The plight and peril of Job is almost universally known. A righteous man with everything going for him is suddenly ruined and has his righteousness questioned by all those around him. A tremendous and compelling account of how the idea of God blessing the righteous and condemning the wicked, on earth, the former with good things and the later with trials, plays out when “bad things happen to good people.”

Not wishing to “beat a dead horse”, turn instead to the ironic humor of God in this passage. What the Lord chooses to add to his book often brings a smile to my face as sure as the oddity of the rest of his creation does. At this point Job is defending himself to his friends and not making any headway. He has called them a few things and they responded with more accusations against him. Then comes God’s since of humor. As Job is bewailing his hardships he says “Oh that my words were written in a book!” Here we are reading in a book the words of Job throwing his fit, begging to have his words recorded that they would testify for him throughout time and God does!

This moment of irony is followed by the greatest hope of all who trust in God for salvation; “For I know that my Redeemer lives”. As I often want to start complaining about how hard life is. It is easy to sink into a toddler tantrum about life. Yet, what peace holds to our souls when we cling to the old rugged cross. Not only because our sin has been paid for but also because the tomb is empty. He got up and walked out, our redeemer lives!

Maybe I am the only one but I also take great joy in the fact that the Canon of Scripture is closed and finished. There will be no other books added to it. I say this because I don’t have to worry about God choosing to record my pity parties for all to see! That is a final comfort to me from the great comforter.

As we read scripture do not be afraid to see the smile and humor of God in the situations he shows us and in the words he has recorded. This is part of his face. His eye often holds twinkle given to the humorous.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO